Realistically, how low can you go?

[PiKapp23]

I'm talking about handicap. How low do you think you can get your handicap? Maybe it's as low as it's going to get or maybe you think your can get a lot better. I'm sure most of the really low and + handicappers, as well as the good young players, believe they can get good enough to go professional or at least get close to that. Others may believe they have already reached their peak because of age, health, time or money. If you think you can get much better, do you have a plan for this or are you just taking it one day at a time?

I've been playing off and on for 25 years (I'm 39), but have gotten more serious about the game the last 6-7 years. I was as low last year as 8.9 (for exactly one handicap revision cycle). Right now I'm at 9.8. My handicap has been pretty volatile the last couple years because good rounds are often followed by bad rounds, so my last 20 usually has 10 good and 10 not so good rounds. I believe with some of the changes I have made in the last 3 months or so that I can get as low as 4-5 because of improved consistentcy (especially with wedges). I do not have the time or money to play or practice any more than I do, but I think this is realistic. I don't believe I would be able to get much lower simply because of these factors (as well as the fact I do not like the gym, but love the dessert tray). Even if I did play and practice more, I think it would be very difficult for me to get better than scratch and that would be a bit of a stretch. If I can get to the 4 to 5 level and maintain it for a couple years at least I'll be able to say I'm happy with that.

[flopdarock]

i am determined to get into single digits... even with time constraints... i believe this is a strong possibility... i think im a few good video lessons from my local pro away from changing my game to where i want it to be... execution and the mental aspect leads to poor course management for me... i seriously think i cant get beyond single digits tho but im not sweating it

[ks8829]

I believe that I can be a 2 handicapper if I practice my short game everyday for at least an hour.

[denver_nuggs_15]

That's a really good question. I have actually thought about it for the past week or so.

I think that I can get to middle single digit handicap (4-6), but I wouldn't mind going lower.
I am 18, so I'll only get stronger in the next few years. I have always been flexible and taken care of my body. I am tall (6'4") and have long arms. I will also be taken lessons this year. I think that I will certainly gain distance. It helps. I don't see why I couldn't hit the ball 280 average with my physical tools.
I think what separates me from some of my peers (or other golfers I play with) is the realization that short game and accuracy are more important than distance. It's a real downer when you're outdriven by 30 yards, but it's great when you shoot 10 shots better than he does.
I also have had problems with my mental game in the past (getting pissed after a bad shot). The second half of 2008, I tried to fix it. I just figure that my mind is the only thing I can control. If I'm not swinging well on a cold, rainy, windy day, I can make up for it if I control my emotions.


I am starting to take golf more seriously than I ever have. My goal was to drop my handicap to 10 (from 14.1) next year. I really do not see why I cannot go lower to high single digits for some of the year.

[wedge player]

I'm talking about handicap. How low do you think you can get your handicap? Maybe it's as low as it's going to get or maybe you think your can get a lot better. I'm sure most of the really low and + handicappers, as well as the good young players, believe they can get good enough to go professional or at least get close to that. Others may believe they have already reached their peak because of age, health, time or money. If you think you can get much better, do you have a plan for this or are you just taking it one day at a time?

i believe i can get into the +3 range ina couple of years i mean im 19 played since 17 and whittled down to 5 so i believe i can

[pshizz]

i believe i can get to scratch. I have seen my older friends do it who were in my position, and now its my turn to make my move. Im 16 and a sophomore in hs, i can practice on weekends during the spring and fall and all summer long. In order to get to scratch i need to be more consistant with the driver, and hit more greens in regulation, once this is accomplished my goal is in sight. I hav begun to work out more now, and i expect that to pay big dividends pretty soon.

[RC]

I've been lower... but am satisfied (can't believe I said that) now because getting older makes those little touch shots harder and harder. It's all for fun and I don't put much pressure on myself.

If you can do it, a couple of little games will help you evaluate your game. One is to play a two ball scramble with yourself... that might give you your current ultimate score at whatever level you are at the time. The other is to play two balls and always pick the worst one. This game helps you learn course management. The two ball drill picking the worst one is a killer challenge, but it will expose weaknesses.

Come spring time, if you only have time for nine holes and you won't hold up play, give the "worst ball" scramble a try -- it is humbling for sure.

[mposter]

How do you know how low you can go?

I really never focus much on my handicap but maybe because it is not that impressive. I know I want to get better. I typically play once a week from April to October with no practice in between rounds. This year I hope to play six times a month. My typical Sat round with my father and two Sunday rounds that will be match play with some local friends. The other two Sundays a month I plan on working on my short game and what ever swing I am struggling with.

I hope that I get better, I win more money on Sundays and that my handicap does go down!

[RocktimusPryme]

Ive been playing for less than 2 years, Im curretly listed as a 10.7 (though thats a bit skewed as Ive only got about 15 rounds posted Im probbaly more around a 12-13.5) My goal is to be a solid single digit by the end of the summer. And thats with having to deal with the financial situation in vegas. Golf is at minimum a $500 a month bill for me. And thats just greens fees, no balls, no new equipment, and no practice time included in that figure. If I moved somehwere where I could afford a membership to a course and didnt have to pay per round so I could play and practice everyday Im convinced I could be scratch in a few years time.

I would like to play a little tournament golf in the next few years, Im a bit too inconsitant right now. Mostly because of my temper, I cant shake off bad shots so Im prone to blowing up. And the problem with that is it totally shaked my confidence, so much so that it may take me multiple rounds to get over one bad one.

When I started playing last year at 24, I told myself I had 26 years to get ready for the championship tour, and I stick to that sentiment

[msd3075]

I'm currently around a 6-7, and I think I easily can get down toe a 4-5. With hard work, I probably have a shot at nearing a scratch handicap, but I don't have nearly enough free time to even attempt it.

On a bit of a different note, I've been told one of the legends of the game (Jack Burke) that every "decent" golfer is capable of becoming a single-digit handicap and that there is next to nothing that should keep anyone from reaching that level.

[picrig]

I'm currently an 18.1, just started playing in June (besides the few odd rounds in college and maybe a 2 month period a couple years ago where I played once a week). I've taken my scores from the mid to upper 90s down to the mid 80s (last 5 rounds average score is 86). I've done it largely w/o the aid of lessons (I took two or three a few months ago). Several friends (one an older family friend in his late 60s who was a better than scratch golfer in his younger days and attempted to make it on tour playing in a few big tournaments) has said that I have a great swing that really just needs some tweaking and a lot of swings. My short game has been coming around.

I just finished reading Bob Rotella's "The Golf of Your Dreams," and have gotten my act together practice wise. My goal is to get my handicap down to the 11-13 range by August when I plan to enroll in the Professional Golfer's Career College and then to attempt to pass my PAT in early 2011 after I finish PGCC.

So, obviously I feel like I have the athletic tools to get down to the 0-5 range, it just is going to take some work. I'm at that point where it just comes down to putting the work in to take it to the next level. I've made that decisions, now I just need to stick to it.

[Fourputt]

I got to 10.1 for one revision last year. The lowest I've ever been is 9.6, but that was more than 15 years ago. I think that the potential is there to get below 10 still but I have to spend more time practicing in order to do it. Not totally certain that I can make that commitment. I go to the course with the intention of hitting the range, but the course always beckons louder.

Except for a period where I sustained a couple of injuries a few years ago, my handicap has been in the 10-12 range for the last 19 years.

[David in FL]

I'm playing off of 5.5 right now. I've been down to 3.2 and would like to get back there......maybe even dip into the 2's. Realistically, that's even pretty aggressive though. A lot of people who have dropped points pretty quickly from the mid to high teens fail to realize how tough those points are to drop when you get towards the low single-digits........at least in my experience.

[Hackerpratt]

my best HDCP as +1.2 4 years ago and then we had kids. It shot up to almost a 2 and I have it back down around .7 right now.

For me to get it back down around +2 it would take me hitting a lot more greens and getting rid of any explosive holes, i.e. doubles. I have noticed that when I play the par 3s on a course at even or lower I always score well.

Of course this comes from pratice and playing more.

Interstingly, I purchased scorecard a few days ago and inputted a few rounds from the last month or so and I can see my scores are very tied into whether or not I hit greens.

[Jay-Bird]

I'm going to practice and play my way down to the 2-3 range this year. I think I can get to scratch, sometimes I can rattle off several birdies in a round, but I always have atleast an equal amount of bogies.

It will take commitment and focus. I have the desire, will and drive.

[JonnyGolf]

I really want to get down to a 4hdcp so I can play in USGA masters events. I'm working towards that this summer.

[mirv]

i'm totally confident that one day - probably not this year, but next year maybe - i can get my handicap below 5 and keep it there. it fluctuates between 6 and 9 right now. some days i've really got it, some days i really don't. but i'm working hard at it, and i totally intend to get to scratch one day.

[kingofcars08]

I just started playing for real 6 months ago, and am playing to an 8 index. This is entirely due to my athletic ability at 22 years old. I love my taylor made r7 driver im hitting, but no one but me apparantly has heard of the oversize tommy armour royal scot's that I have, missing a 5 and 6 iron. I play some cleveland cg11 which I like, they check really nice, but dont spin as much as Id like. But other than some more rounds under my belt, and a desperately needed new set of clubs (I would be nice to have a club for 180-210 par 3's and approaches) I really think I could be a low single digit. If anyone knows of a good players club for $150-200 usd, let me know. Im thinking cleveland cg2 or some older mizuno's.